I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library) [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert K. Ressler (Author), Tom Shachtman (Author)

Book Description

Series: St. Martin's True Crime Library | Publication Date: March 15, 1998

From their gruesome, body-strewn lairs, to the darkest regions of their twisted psyches, Robert K. Ressler shows you serial killers as you've never seen them before.

In his phenomenally successful Whoever Fights Monsters, Robert K. Ressler examined his brilliant twenty-year career hunting down killers for the FBI. Now, delving deeper than ever before into the criminal mind, Ressler recounts his years since leaving the FBI, working as an independent criminal profiler on some of the most famous serial murder cases of our day.

Ingeniously piecing together clues from crime scenes, along with killing patterns and methods, Ressler explains his role in assisting the investigations of such perplexing international cases as England's Wimbledon Common killing, the ABC Murders in South Africa, and the deadly gassing of Japan's subway. We're also witness to Ressler's fascinating, in-depth interviews with John Wayne Gacy, the first and last one America's most prolific serial killer would ever grant, plus a shockingly candid discussion with "cannibal killer" Jeffrey Dahmer.

Daring to understand the depraved minds of serial killers, Robert K. Ressler returns from the deepest abyss with an unforgettable account that is as riveting as it is shocking.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Ressler] probably knows more than anyone about the mind of a murderer."--Mirabella

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312964293
• ISBN-13: 978-0312964290
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You're going the wrong way, Mr. Ressler . . ., November 25, 1999

By 

James - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading Mr. Ressler' first book, "Whoever Fights Monsters," I was hoping that his second book would go into even greater detail in explaining how the many elements of murder investigation yield a criminal profile of the killer. Sadly, this book goes the other way. It downright skims over some of the most intriguing cases of our time. The result is maddening. I was left hanging time after time after time. I was also hoping that Mr. Ressler would turn down the ego a notch or two with his second book. No such luck. "I Have Lived in the Monster" is even more ego-ridden than "Whoever Fights Monsters." If you don't believe me, just check out the photo section. I am still looking for that special book that goes into great depth on just one case to show true-crime buffs just how criminal profiling really works. That was a HINT, Mr. Ressler!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disorganized and uninteresting, August 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ressler writes a rather disjointed and perfunctory summary of cases he has been involved with, some in a very minor way. He doesn't go into any of them in much detail, and you get the feeling he has a lot of personal axes to grind and rivalries with his former co-workers to air out. For example he says more than once that, despite what his detractors have claimed, he doesn't actively solicit work, but rather he is sought out by his clients. John Douglas is mentioned only once, in a rather critical way, but Douglas's books are far better written and more interesting.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ego, ego, ego...., November 29, 1999

By 

J Arnold (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Ressler seems to find ways to work himself (and his accomplishments) into each story he tells. Very disappointing book! Really didn't care for the comment made about John Douglas either! Mr. Ressler, I wanted to read a book about what stirs these people to commit the crimes they do - not about you and your accomplishments. Save it for your bio - and let someone else read it!